TIMELESS TEMPTATION

CHAPTER 49

The twilight sky blazed with the fiery hues of an impending sunset, casting an orange glow across the newly built palace of Indraprastha (city of Indra). The air crackled with nervous anticipation as Krishna, a mischievous glint in his eyes, beckoned Tara out of the grand entrance.

"Come, Tara," he called out, his voice laced with playful urgency. "There's something you need to see."

Tara, intrigued and slightly apprehensive, followed Krishna as he led her away from the opulent palace walls. They walked for a while, the bustling sounds of construction fading behind them. Finally, they reached a clearing nestled amidst a grove of trees.

There, gathered around a flickering fire, stood a group of figures. They were the original inhabitants of Khandavaprastha – the Rakshasas (demons), Yakshas (nature spirits), and Kinnaras (celestial musicians) who had called this land home before the Pandavas' arrival.

Their faces were etched with a mix of curiosity, fear, and resentment. A gruff-looking Rakshasa with fiery red eyes stepped forward.

"You," he growled, his voice laced with suspicion, "you are the human who helped drive us from our homes. Where are we supposed to live now? What was our crime?"

Tara, overwhelmed by the unexpected confrontation, stood speechless. Shame washed over her. They were right. In the pursuit of creating their kingdom, the Pandavas hadn't considered the displaced inhabitants.

Turning to Krishna, she pleaded, her voice trembling, "Kakashree, what do we do?"

Krishna, his playful demeanor replaced by a thoughtful frown, stroked his chin. An idea, audacious yet potentially fruitful, began to take shape in his mind.

"There's a way," he declared, his voice low and measured, "but it requires a sacrifice."

He explained his plan - a secret pact between Tara and the displaced inhabitants. Tara, being a descendant of Durga Rakshasa, the powerful warrior goddess, possessed the necessary magical lineage. She could offer them a hidden sanctuary, a kingdom co-existing with Indraprastha, invisible to the naked eye.

However, this sanctuary would come at a price. A blood pact, binding the inhabitants to Tara's rule, would be required to maintain the invisibility spell. They would have to accept her as their queen, a leader who understood their plight.

A heavy silence descended upon the clearing. The displaced beings exchanged uneasy glances. The offer of a hidden haven was tempting, but the idea of submitting to a human, especially one with such a potent divine lineage, was a bitter pill to swallow.

Krishna, sensing their hesitation, added a crucial point. "Remember," he stressed, "this pact will be kept secret, even from the Pandavas. It will be a bond of trust between you and Tara, a queen who understands the value of coexistence."

The Rakshasa leader, after a tense deliberation with his companions, finally spoke. "Very well," he rumbled, his voice gruff but laced with a grudging acceptance. "We accept your offer. But remember, human, this pact binds you as well. Never betray our presence, never speak of this hidden kingdom to anyone, not even your Pandava kin."

Tara, understanding the weight of the responsibility, nodded solemnly. A prick on her finger, a mingling of blood, and a whispered incantation sealed the pact. The clearing shimmered, then vanished, leaving behind only a faint rustling in the leaves - a testament to the hidden kingdom that now existed within the very heart of Indraprastha.

Krishna, his plan executed, turned towards Tara with a reassuring smile. "There, Tara," he declared, a hint of amusement lingering in his voice. "You are now the queen of a hidden kingdom, protector of displaced beings. Not bad for a girl who just arrived, eh?"

Tara, a strange mix of emotions swirling within her, stared at the empty clearing. The weight of the pact settled upon her shoulders, a secret burden she would carry alongside her new life in Indraprastha. This kingdom, built on ambition and resilience, now held a hidden layer – a reminder of the delicate balance between power and compassion, a secret Tara would have to safeguard with her life.

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Well in next chapter there is a suprise guys ..do vote and comment